Reunions
Hanken will gladly host reunions, and we would be happy to help you with organising a memorable event.
Feel free to contact us at alumni@hanken.fi, and we can help you reconnect!
On Thursday 3 September, just over 30 alumni who had begun their studies between 1966 and 1969 gathered at Hanken in Helsinki. It was, in other words, the turn of the 75–80-year-olds to be invited by the university’s rector to a gathering, featuring an overview of what is currently happening at Hanken and pleasant conversation with old fellow students. The hosts for the reunion were Magnus Bargum and Christian Grönroos.
The two afternoon hours were put to good use: the first hour was devoted to Rector Ingmar ‘Inkku’ Björkman’s fascinating presentation on Hanken today, a top-tier business school by both national and international standards. Björkman said that the common thread remains: the sense of community, the ‘Hanken spirit’, but in other respects, the School has undoubtedly undergone a complete transformation.
During the second hour, the floor was opened for discussion, and the alumni shared memories from various careers, from teaching in days gone by and from the student union. Perhaps most of all, from student union life, from the time before Casa when everything took place within the same building. The participants also recalled how the first steps in the student union building project were taken – a project which is now, 60 years later, back on the agenda.
The initiative to organise these year-group-based alumni gatherings was widely praised, and the alumni expressed their heartfelt thanks to the university.
Text: Magnus Bargum
Fond memories shared when around 30 alumni gathered at Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki in early April 2026 for a reunion for those who began their studies in 1965 or earlier. The alumni looked back on their student days with warmth and pride. Among the participants were Elisabeth Rehn and Bengt Ohls, who graduated from Hanken in 1957 and 1964 respectively. Elisabeth Rehn, who holds the honorary title of Minister and is an Honorary Doctor of Hanken, explains that her major was economics – but that other subjects also captured her interest.
On 1 September 2022, this group of alumni celebrated their 45-year reunion since starting their studies in 1977 at Hanken. The group gathered at restaurant The Cock and the atmosphere was great! Five years has passed since the previous gathering and there were many voices saying that they should meet more often. Perhaps gathering at After Works between the more festive occasions to start. The “Class of 77” warmly recommends others to reunions and perhaps even visit Hanken together. As we know; once a hankeit, always a hankeit!
Text: Paul Taimitarha
In September 2019, a group of alumni gathered at Hanken to celebrate the 55-year anniversary of starting their studies in 1964. The celebrations included a welcoming speech from Rector and the President of the Student Union sharing information about Hanken's activities today. After a tour of the NoCo exhibition, the festivities continued at a nearby restaurant. The atmosphere was great with songs and speeches, just like at Hanken 55 years ago. Many of the participants had not seen each other since they completed their studies. In hindsight, these reunions should have been organised earlier, but better late than never.
Text: Virve Forssell
Hanken's class of 1956-1959 celebrated their 60-year anniversary at Hanken with a tour of the ongoing art exhibition and lunch in the teachers' lounge. Rector Karen Spens welcomed everyone with an interesting presentation about Hanken's activities today. The class have started to have reunions since 1963, the same day President Kennedy was murdered. After that irregurlarly, but every year since 1999.
Text: Kurt Blomqvist